Application access management method and apparatus

Abstract

An exemplary application access manager apparatus includes at least one computing device. A digital data storage comprises a relationship establishment program, an application access program and a revenue allocation program. A processor is configured to execute the relationship establishment program to apply a plurality of rules that govern a relationship between a user desiring access to at least one application and at least one of a service provider or an application provider. The processor is configured to execute the application access program to obtain information regarding any access by the user of the application. The processor is configured to execute the revenue allocation program to determine how to charge the user for any access to the application and to allocate any revenue to at least one of the service provider or the application provider.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An application access manager apparatus, comprising:
 at least one computing device including a digital data storage and a processor associated with the digital data storage;   the digital data storage comprising a relationship establishment program, an application access program and a revenue allocation program;   the processor being configured to execute the relationship establishment program to apply a plurality of rules that govern a relationship between
 a user desiring access to at least one application and 
 at least one of a service provider through which the user obtains the desired access or an application provider that provides the at least one application; 
   the processor being configured to execute the application access program to obtain information regarding any access of the at least one application by the user; and   the processor being configured to execute the revenue allocation program to determine how to charge the user for any access to the at least one application and to allocate any revenue from the user to at least one of the service provider and the application provider according to at least one of the plurality of rules.   
     
     
         2 . The application access manager apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the relationship establishment program to allow at least one of the application provider or the service provider to establish one or more of the rules that govern the relationship between the at least one provider and the user. 
     
     
         3 . The application access manager apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the relationship establishment program to
 present the user with at least one template that indicates information needed from the user;   obtain the information from the user; and   determine the plurality of rules that govern the relationship of the user and at least one of the providers.   
     
     
         4 . The application access manager apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the relationship establishment program to present the user with a contract to be executed by the user as a prerequisite to obtaining any desired access to an application. 
     
     
         5 . The application access manager apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the application access program to
 obtain information regarding an amount of user access to the at least one application;   determine an amount to charge the user for the access; and   allocate at least some of the charged amount to at least one of the service provider and the application provider according to at least one of the plurality of rules that govern the relationship between the user and the at least one provider.   
     
     
         6 . The application access manager apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the application access program to determine any activity of the user accessing the at least one application; and
 provide an indication of the determined activity.   
     
     
         7 . The application access manager apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the application access program to provide the indication of the determined activity to any of the user, the service provider or the application provider. 
     
     
         8 . The application access manager apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the application access program to
 provide an indication of a history of any determined activity of any user accessing any application that is accessible through the application access manager apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The application access manager apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the revenue allocation program to
 determine an amount to charge the user based on the indication of the determined activity; and   determine a portion of the charged amount to allocate to at least one of the service provider and the application provider.   
     
     
         10 . The application access manager apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the revenue allocation program to
 determine an amount of commercialization of an application that has been at least partially created or modified by the user; and   determine an amount of revenue to allocate to at least one of the service provider and the application provider based on the determined amount of commercialization.   
     
     
         11 . A method of managing application access, comprising:
 using at least one computing device including a digital data storage and a processor associated with the digital data storage for   (A) establishing a relationship between
 a user desiring access to at least one application and 
 at least one of a service provider through which the user obtains the desired access or an application provider that provides the at least one application, 
   the relationship comprising a plurality of rules governing user access to the at least one application;   (B) obtaining information regarding any access of the at least one application by the user;   (C) determining how to charge the user for any access to the at least one application; and   (D) determining how to allocate any revenue from the user to at least one of the service provider and the application provider according to at least one of the plurality of rules.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising
 allowing at least one of the application provider or the service provider to establish one or more of the rules that govern the relationship between the at least one provider and the user.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising
 presenting the user with at least one template that indicates information needed from the user;   obtaining the information from the user; and   determining the plurality of rules that govern the relationship of the user and at least one of the providers.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising presenting the user with a contract to be executed by the user as a prerequisite to obtaining any desired access to an application. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising
 obtaining information regarding an amount of user access to the at least one application;   determining an amount to charge the user for the access; and   allocating at least some of the charged amount to at least one of the service provider and the application provider according to at least one of the plurality of rules that govern the relationship between the user and the at least one provider.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising
 determining any activity of the user accessing the at least one application; and   providing an indication of the determined activity.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising providing the indication of the determined activity to any of the user, the service provider or the application provider. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising providing an indication of a history of any determined activity of the user accessing an application. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising
 determining an amount to charge the user based on the indication of the determined activity; and   determining a portion of the charged amount to allocate to at least one of the service provider and the application provider.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising
 determining an amount of commercialization of an application that has been at least partially created or modified by the user; and   determining an amount of revenue to allocate to at least one of the service provider and the application provider based on the determined amount of commercialization.